Blood Legacy: The House Of Alexander Part 7

Aeron did not hesitate. "And why is that, my dear?"

Ryan's jaw clenched and the shutters of her mind slammed downward. She had nearly walked into that trap again. She had the sudden fleeting thought that perhaps that was why she was being sent on this task in the first place. But she could not entertain the thought and withstand the mental onslaught of the five in front of her. She blanked all trace of her father from her mind, and instead responded with her own question.

"And if I refuse?"

Aeron glanced at his perfectly manicured fingernails. "Then you will pay the price for disobeying this Council."

Ryan rolled her eyes and her voice dripped with sarcasm. "Oh no, not that."

This angered Aeron and his eyes flashed as he sat forward in his chair. But before he could address her insolence and dismissive att.i.tude, Abigail interjected.

"What did your father tell you to do?" she asked calmly.

Ryan was silent as Abigail gazed at her intently. Ryan held her gaze, then looked downward. The silence was p.r.o.nounced "He told me to obey the edict of this Council."

Abigail sat back, exchanging a significant look with Aeron. Ryan's eyes were cast downward, and she missed the exchange, but Marilyn did not. Marilyn's expression did not change but she filed the piece of information away.

Ryan looked back up, addressing Abigail. "Victor knew why you called me here?"

Abigail was both gentle and not. "Of course. I spoke with him myself. I am surprised he did not make you aware of what you faced." She paused, her voice lowering. "Ah, but I forgot-your father tells you nothing of our Kind, forcing you to learn everything the hard way."

Ryan let the mild insult slide, her mind too full to take on the insignificant.

"Then I have no choice but to accept this task."

It was obvious that Ryan was angry, and that Aeron was inordinately pleased. He spoke, businesslike, as if the outcome had never been in question.

"You have one year, in which to fulfill your duty, and you will report to the Grand Council every three months."

Ryan nodded, her jaw clenched. It appeared that matters were all but settled. The witnesses behind her began to stir in preparation for departure. Ryan's next words stopped them cold.

"I have but one final question."

Aeron outwardly showed no concern. But his sudden stillness indicated he was listening carefully, as were all of the Council members.

"Which is?"

There was a long silence accompanied by a sharp drop in the atmospheric pressure of the room. It was Ryan's turn to examine her fingernails. When she spoke, she enunciated each word clearly and carefully.

"If I am to kill every One of our Kind that I am capable of killing..." She slowly stood, her lithe figure unfolding with a deadly grace. Her words were still spoken softly, but with a dangerous edge.

"Does that include the five before me?"

There was stunned silence in the room, intermixed with a good deal of anger. Aeron's expression was cold and it was evident he was furious. Ala, who was surprised by little, was astonished at the boldness of this One. Marilyn, who knew how powerful Ryan was, kept her thoughts to herself. Abigail, for the briefest moment, actually considered the possibility of the girl's threat.

Only Kusunoki smiled.

Knowing that she would not receive a response, Ryan turned her back on the Council, but Abigail's voice stopped her. "I will speak with you before you leave."

Ryan turned slightly, then nodded deferentially. "I will wait for you."

And the indicted One left the room.

Eleven of the twelve witnesses sat in their chairs, frozen. Edward, the only one who was clear-headed enough to remember protocol, got to his feet. The other witnesses were immobile a moment longer, then scrambled to their feet. They stood stiffly until Aeron waved his hand angrily, ignoring procedure.

"Get out."

The twelve disappeared as if they had never been there.

Ala rose gracefully, and Kusunoki stood, offering his arm to her. Ala took the proffered arm, nodding to the other three Council members. "I am going to retire to my quarters." Kusunoki nodded also, and the two left by the door through which they had entered.

It was quiet, then Marilyn broke the silence. "Well, I thought that went well."

Both Abigail and Aeron turned to Marilyn, her irony unappreciated. Marilyn smiled her wicked smile and stood. "I, too, am retiring to my quarters. I shall have to find a way to release all of the pent-up energy this little gathering has aroused."

Both watched her leave, their thoughts very different on the subject of release, and yet very much the same. It was again silent for a moment, then Abigail turned to Aeron, rising. Her words were both a warning and a parting shot as she, too, took her leave.

"I certainly hope you know what you are doing."

Ryan met Edward in one of the alcoves in the hallway. The subterranean gathering place was filled with corridors, their twists and turns offering opportunities for trysts of all kinds. But as with all political inst.i.tutions, privacy was at a premium, not because the walls had ears, but because the inhabitants of this structure could hear right through them.

Ryan took that into consideration when choosing the location in which she would speak. She was as far away from the permanent quarters of the Grand Council as possible.

"Well, I thought that went well," she said, unknowingly echoing both Marilyn's words and her sarcasm.

Edward raised an eyebrow. "Ah, yes. I thought your closing statement was particularly effective."

Ryan's mouth twitched. "I believe it was a perfectly valid question."

"I do not think the Grand Council shared your belief."

The dangerous edge returned to Ryan's voice. "They might be in for a very unpleasant surprise."

Edward nodded, returning to the primary matter at hand. "I cannot believe that they would choose you for this task."

"Yes," Ryan mused, "On our return trip you are going to have educate me further on these 'cleansings.' It seems quite idiotic that I am supposed to run around for a year killing everything I see."

Edward shrugged. "It is an ancient custom. It is normally fraught with political implications, and generally a great honor to be chosen. Although the 'cleansing' is supposed to be without judgment, it rarely is. For the hunter, it is an opportunity to shape the future of our Kind, at least to a degree. Which is why it is so odd that they have chosen you."

Ryan turned to him with a questioning eye, and Edward explained.

"You have no political aspirations and few if any political ties. I cannot see that it would benefit any members of this Council to appoint you, unless they thought they could turn you against another's lineage, thereby leaving their own in a greater position of power."

Ryan pondered his words. "It still doesn't make sense to me. They know I have the ability to decimate our Kind. I almost wonder if this is an excuse to separate me from my father in his time of need."

Edward was quiet. The thought had occurred to him as well. He softly spoke the obvious. "That would imply that someone on the Council knows that he is in fact in need."

Ryan spoke the less obvious. "Or that they had a hand in causing it. We haven't ruled out non-natural causes."

Edward nodded gravely. That would imply deep machinations on someone's part. For someone to strike at Victor without his or Ryan's knowledge would require great skill and planning. But who would benefit from such a strike? And what was the end result of such an elaborate plan? Ryan would simply be furious and take her revenge on whomever was responsible.

Unless, of course, Ryan was next. All five of the Council members would benefit from the removal of both Victor and Ryan.

Ryan read the concern on Edward's face. She put her hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry about me, my friend. We have no evidence whatsoever to support any of this conjecture, and I did not sense anything from anyone in that room. I do not trust any member of the Council, even those who claim alliance with my father. As powerful as they are, I find it difficult to believe that they could strike at Victor without his knowledge. This situation may be exactly what it seems, and that is exactly how I am going to respond right now."

Edward did not completely understand. "And your response will be?"

"I am going to do exactly what they have commanded me to do. I am going to kill everyone of our Kind that I am capable of killing."

Edward felt a bit uncomfortable. "Should I distance myself from you now or later?"

Ryan rolled her eyes. "I am not going to kill you, Edward. Don't misunderstand me. I am going to do as they have commanded, and I will do it in the way that they expect."

"I am still not certain I understand."

Ryan smiled a humorless smile. "There will be some partiality in my choice of prey."

Edward nodded slowly. "But how will you decide?"

Ryan shrugged. "Now that's where it gets complicated, doesn't it? Deciding who is still standing at the end of the game." Ryan sighed. "You are right, it might be easier just to destroy them all."

Edward glanced over at his young liege; that wasn't what he had said at all.

Ryan eyed her most-faithful servant. "I am not serious, Edward. I swear, sometimes you have no sense of humor at all."

Edward left to ready the jet for departure and Ryan made her way through the underground corridors to the quarters of the Grand Council members. She could feel the power of those present as she approached. She stopped for a moment, letting the sensations flow over her. It was with a certain surprise that she felt Ala and Kusunoki together, although she immediately withdrew her attention out of respect for their privacy. They knew she was here as well.

Ryan continued on until she came to the entryway of Abigail's suite. Each member of the Council had ornate accommodations, a reflection of their power and wealth. The door whispered open, and as Ryan entered she realized each suite was a reflection of the occupant's style and personality as well.

Abigail's suite was a study in timeless elegance and cool beauty. Decorated in brilliant whites and pale blues, it could have been a chateau on the banks of the Garonne river as opposed to a bunker thousands of feet underground. Their Kind had always gone to elaborate lengths to ensure privacy, but were unwilling to sacrifice anything in terms of luxury.

The skin on the back of Ryan's neck tingled as she felt Abigail's presence behind her. The stunning older woman brushed by her, causing the skin on her arm to tingle as well.

"Please, my dear, come sit with me awhile."

With Abigail, even a subtle request held the seeds of command. The fact that Abigail had undergone the Change when physically older than most of her Kind lent her an air of matriarchal authority, even amongst beings whose physical appearance meant nothing. The fact that she was also one of the Oldest of their Kind created an irresistible combination of regal beauty and staggering power.

Ryan was not immune to Abigail's charms. In fact, Ryan's apparent youth created the opposite psychological conundrum. Ryan had been Changed when so physically young, although she was almost seven centuries old, Abigail could still make her feel like a child.

Unfortunately for Ryan, Abigail was very aware of this. "Here, my dear," she said, motioning to the seat across from her.

Ryan obeyed, noting that Abigail had changed from her robes into a striking gown, then noting that she wished she hadn't noted this. She moved further into the chambers and settled across from Abigail into cushions that were a little too comfortable. Their knees nearly touched and as Abigail smoothed her gown, the hem fell across Ryan's feet.

"It is good to see you," Abigail said, noting that the girl had changed into a white shirt open at the throat.

"And you as well," Ryan replied.

"I have not seen you since," Abigail paused and Ryan shifted uncomfortably, "Why, since Marilyn had her way with you after the trial."

One of the few human responses that Ryan had retained after her Change was her ability to blush, although Ryan rather considered it her inability to refrain from blushing. She was unable to refrain now, which Abigail observed with pleasure.

The memory of her union with Marilyn brought the full force of another memory. Victor had offered his child to Marilyn in return for her loyalty and a.s.sistance in recovering from the near-mortal injuries Ryan had inflicted upon him. He had made the same offer to Abigail. However, to the surprise of everyone Abigail had chosen to delay her gratification and had "saved" her debt, choosing to exercise her option at some unspecified time in the future.

The knowledge of that unfinished business sat heavily in the room at this moment. Ryan knew that Abigail could call the debt at any time. The knowledge sat between them, creating a tension that was not without pleasure. This thought made Ryan angry, or at least made her want to be angry, at her weakness. Abigail watched the girl's struggle, entertained.

Ryan shook her head. "Is there a reason why you have called me here?"

Abigail stared at the girl a moment longer, unwilling to let her little fish loose just yet. When she did release her, it was merely to sink the hook's barb deeper.

"So how is it that you know Aeron?" she asked.

The question slammed into Ryan, and her jaw clenched at the blow. She said nothing, attempting to block Abigail's sudden invasion of her mind. But unlike matters in which she was unequivocal, such as her father, thoughts of Aeron had no such clarity, and were more accessible.

Abigail sensed the confusion and was intrigued. She shifted slightly so that her leg was touching that of Ryan. The contact sent a shockwave through her, almost as if it had opened up a physical conduit between the two beings. Abigail saw that Ryan felt the shock as well and was curious to see if she would withdraw from the connection. As vulnerable as Ryan was, Abigail was impressed that she did not pull away. That did not keep her from pressing her advantage, however.

"Did Aeron force you?" she asked softly.

Ryan was quiet for a moment. "As much as any of our Kind forces one."

Ah, Abigail thought, an interesting admission. The girl had been seduced. She had been privy to Aeron's seduction of others, and it was almost always violent. She would have given almost anything to watch Aeron take this One. She wondered how successful Ryan had been at resistance.

"And did you take his blood?"

Ryan shook her head, her eyes distant. Abigail knew that there was something the girl was withholding.

"Why not?"

Ryan looked down, but her eyes were still focused on a far-away place. She raised her finger to her face, stroking her lip. Abigail was entranced at the unconscious gesture, and struggled to stay on task.

"Victor came, just as Aeron had bled me."

Ah, Abigail thought, the two had been interrupted before the moment of decision had arrived. That would not keep her from finding out what that decision might have been. Her next words were casual, but her question was devastating.

"And would you have taken his blood?"

The question wrenched at Ryan. Her jaw clenched, almost spasmodically. Her eyes, still unfocused, were in a very dark place.

"Would you," Abigail repeated more softly, "Have taken his blood?"

Abigail shifted again and her leg was firmly pressed up against Ryan's thigh, opening the conduit wide. Ryan closed her eyes, knowing she could not escape this woman and could not lie to her.

"Yes, I would have taken his blood."

Abigail sighed with satisfaction, settling back into the deep cushions of the chaise lounge. She was not done with her little fish yet.

And would you take my blood?

The words whispered silently through Ryan's head, unspoken but clearly communicated. She stared at the woman across from her. Abigail's knowing smile told her that she did not require an answer because the response was already known.